Leonardo Madelón: “We’ve hit another target, I’m feeling great” | OneFootball

The coach of Unión, Leonardo Madelón, analyzed the draw against Barracas Central at the 15 de Abril stadium, a result that allowed them to secure their place in the Clausura playoffs. Despite the 0-0 score, the coach was satisfied with the performance and valued the collective effort in a tough match.

“We achieved another goal. I feel very good. I wanted to thank not only the fans, but everyone who showed composure. We played against a tough opponent who often makes things difficult with their style of play. The fans were patient, and these are the kind of points that matter. We did everything to win it and couldn’t do it,” said the coach.

Madelón highlighted the context of Unión’s current moment and the importance of regaining confidence after an irregular start: “It’s already a huge pleasure to be in this situation, after a complicated start with a lot of tension. It was a tough time and I wasn’t sleeping much, so when we got that weight off our shoulders, the team was freed and enjoyed things more. There’s still one match left to see where we finish and who we’ll face. Hopefully it’ll be at home, because the team has a clear style and knows how to play with the support of the fans, even though we’ve won more away games.”

The coach also jokingly referred to a specific situation with Lautaro Vargas, who had to be careful not to receive a fifth yellow card: “I have to show him that I’m angry (laughs). We can’t afford to pick and choose situations. At the end, there was a chance for him to get booked. I allowed it, because then he’ll go into the knockout stage with a clean slate. He’s a young guy and asks questions. Lautaro is top-notch and has a great future. You have to guide them so they don’t go off track, because society can change you. I’m a bit of a father figure now.”

More from Leonardo Madelón at Unión

Regarding Cristian Tarragona’s physical condition before the match, he clarified: “He didn’t play because he had a knock on his quadriceps from the match against Newell’s. We took it to the end with the doctors, but he wasn’t going to last the whole game, so Chelo (Estigarribia) was ready to step in. Luckily, we have forwards and the team performs. One goes out and whoever comes in keeps things going.”

Madelón also analyzed how the match unfolded: “This is a bit like chess, because the point was useful for us. You get what you want, but then you have to see how the draw came about. We played wide and attacked well in the second half, with a shot that hit the post and some chances. There were dangerous plays, but the team did everything and always pushed forward, while avoiding mistakes. Always being careful. That was the idea.”

Looking ahead, the coach was clear about the team’s identity and the upcoming challenge against Belgrano: “We’re tough, a team nobody wants to face. That’s our characteristic. We’ve already shaped the team and worked on that, but we can’t get overconfident, because now we have a tough match against Belgrano, where there’s a long streak to break. In Vargas’ place, we have replacements: (Emiliano) Álvarez, (Nicolás) Paz, and (Francisco) Gerometta.”

Finally, he reflected on the group’s maturity and the team’s growth: “It wasn’t an end-to-end match. It was balanced. I think Unión is developing personality, learning to manage the tempo. (Matías) Tagliamonte wasn’t attacked, which means we defended well too. There was a lot of composure. When you can’t win, you shouldn’t lose either. It’s a good point.”

And he concluded with a message of moderation: “We never promised more than what we have, and the team is becoming aware of the good things that could happen, but that doesn’t mean we’re already champions. We have to go match by match. There’s good energy throughout the club and that’s positive.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.